The Hard Questions for an Authentic Life: 100 Essential Questions for Designing Your Life from the Inside Out

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Summary: THE QUEST FOR AUTHENTICITY
Review: In this book the reader is encouraged to discover his/her authentic life by a. focusing on "the Present" and by. by working through the 100 questions in order to analyze one's life and formulate appropriate strategies for ,living authentically. Her introduction outlines her quest for authenticity and her discovery of "being present" as her way of manifesting an authentic life. She suggests four principles to help: the courage to listen with an open mind; the willingness to feel discomfort, focusing on what is happening and being present, that comes through daily meditation. The subsequent chapters deal with the different areas of one's life: Family, Friends, Intimates, Work, Money, Creativity and Spirituality. Each chapter has a brief introduction and 10-15 questions, with space for writing down answers. Her "Afterward" lists question one can ask at the beginning and ending of each day.
Especially helpful was her anecdote about the questioning she did with her fiancee about the life they wanted once married. Her insight was that the questioning process brought them closer together, even as the answers changed over time. Also helpful was her insight that questions asked with genuine curiosity are more likely to be answered than those asked with hostility.
She encourages people to work through the questions slowly and thoroughly. Her questions in the chapters "Family" and "Friends" encourages the reader to identify his/her own needs, and ways the reader can be more giving to relatives and friends. Her insight: "You choose you friends because you can't choose your relatives." Friendships help family relationships run more smoothly. She encourages the reader to look for areas where forgiveness is needed and to spot patterns that began in the original family that repeat in future relationships,
While her anecdotes added a lot, her analysis of the questioning process could have been more thoroughly thought through. The sentence describing her epiphany on p. xviii would have read better with a colon (:) after the word "present". Also, with no bibliography or footnotes, I was left wondering where she got her ideas. The insights, and the book's overall clear style make this a worthwhile read whether or not you work through questions. One might feel inspired to ask his or her own questions.

Rating:
Summary: Great Handbook
Review: This book helps you ask important questions about your life, who you are, and where you are headed. Susan doesn't give you answers, She shows you how to ask and discover for yourself. We don't need more books of advice, we need more aids at self-inquiry. This book hits the nail on the head. Highly recommended.